"Made in Sheffield" 1830-1930, A golden age ?

rockman0 said:
Southern & Richardson pruner. I found an interesting company history, apparently it was a dangerous place to work. Neat double grooved bolsters:cool: I didn't realize the backspring is tapered until I unboxed it, that's a nice surprise:thumbsup:
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I agree with Duncan, Bob, that's a beauty :) Stan Shaw gave me an interesting explanation for the tapered springs. He said that the springs (and blades) came from the forgers in varying widths, but the only place where they needed to be the same width was at the pivot. Since they were all on 'piece work', the cutler would just taper the spring to save time :D :thumbsup:
 
Campbellclanman said:
Rob That sure is a Sweetheart of an old Pruner matey! Beautiful old Stag, I love everything about that Knife! :) :thumbsup:
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Thanks, Duncan :thumbsup:

Jack Black said:
I agree with Duncan, Bob, that's a beauty :) Stan Shaw gave me an interesting explanation for the tapered springs. He said that the springs (and blades) came from the forgers in varying widths, but the only place where they needed to be the same width was at the pivot. Since they were all on 'piece work', the cutler would just taper the spring to save time :D :thumbsup:
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That makes sense, Jack. Thanks for sharing your knowledge :thumbsup:
 
rockman0 said:
That makes sense, Jack. Thanks for sharing your knowledge :thumbsup:
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It never occurred to me until I asked Stan Rob, those old cutlers may have been craftsmen, but they also had to put food on the table, and time was money. I posted an interesting video in the FB thread yesterday, which looks at the same thing, in an earlier period :thumbsup:
 
Jack Black said:
It never occurred to me until I asked Stan Rob, those old cutlers may have been craftsmen, but they also had to put food on the table, and time was money. I posted an interesting video in the FB thread yesterday, which looks at the same thing, in an earlier period :thumbsup:
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I enjoyed the video and to his point, one of things I enjoy about old Sheffield made working knives is they are very functional knives, typically the blades are snappy and have none or very little play in the open position yet looking at the fit of the blade to joint and liners to spring it's typically not very tight and would be totally unacceptable for modern day knives.
 
Hi every one , its a pleasure to me to have the chance to show my small knife collection in this such important blade forum . . . I hope you like . . .Cheers from Brazil , Jose .
 
kwackster said:
A fellow collector's recent addition is this J.Rodgers & Sons pocket bowie.
He visited me today for some knife talk and a cup of coffee, and i just had to take a few snapshots of this old school Sheffield made gem.











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Gorgeous little Bowie hunter, your friend is quite lucky.
Thank him for letting you show it to us.
 
Rockman, I love your S&R pruner, it's a noble tool with some lovely features to it.
I pressed one of mine into service lately in the garden after a well overdue reprofile. Here it is from earlier today after a wipe on my sleeve. Clarke and Warburton.



Been meaning to add a few new pieces to the thread, hope you don't mind me photo bombing!
Harrison Brother and Howson "The Docker". I'd have called it an Etterick? Powerful exact cutter this.





John Slater & Son's. Can't find them in the holy book, looks and feels old. It came up good with a flush, lube, sharpen and tightening of the pivots. Love the ivory. I'm going to enjoy using this lots.








Ibberson ruler knife, I like that's it's a foot and "Rustless". Jack should like this one, cool it has a manicure blade too, not seem that before.







Any ideas on Stewarts & Lloyd's?
 
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ed_is_dead said:
Rockman, I love your S&R pruner, it's a noble tool with some lovely features to it.
I pressed one of mine into service lately in the garden after a well overdue reprofile. Here it is from earlier today after a wipe on my sleeve. Clarke and Warburton.



Being meaning to add a few new pieces to the thread, hope you don't mind me photo bombing!
Harrison Brother and How's on "The Docker". I'd have called it an Etterick? Powerful exact cutter this.





John Slater & Son's. Can't find them in the holy book, looks and feels old. It came up good with a flush, lube, sharpen and tightening of the pivots. Love the ivory. I'm going to enjoy using this lots.






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Nice new additions Ed :cool: Possibly John Slater, father of Warrington Slater and Walter Slater, the Slater Brothers? :thumbsup:
 
Amazing Additions Ed, each and everyone! That J.Slater Ivory Utility is superb, the Pick and Tweezers are very long for the Knife- that's an interesting wee feature on it's own!

Interesting seeing a Harrisons "Docker" I picked up a Joseph Rodgers one a while ago!

Thank you for sharing yet more of what must be an astounding collection of Sheffield Treasures.
 
Jack Black said:
Nice new additions Ed :cool: Possibly John Slater, father of Warrington Slater and Walter Slater, the Slater Brothers? :thumbsup:
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Awesome Jack thanks! I came up with nothing for the exact name and made a note to read through all Slaters when time allowed but you've saved me from it, that's gotta be it.
So John being the predecessor to what would eventually become Slater of Venture fame. Guess me a rough date?
Great and at times sad to read the history of these once proud companies and what befell them and the families who ran them, reduced down to dates born, died, buried on unconsecrated ground leaving x amount of money. The knives live on.
Campbellclanman said:
Amazing Additions Ed, each and everyone! That J.Slater Ivory Utility is superb, the Pick and Tweezers are very long for the Knife- that's an interesting wee feature on it's own!

Interesting seeing a Harrisons "Docker" I picked up a Joseph Rodgers one a while ago!

Thank you for sharing yet more of what must be an astounding collection of Sheffield Treasures.
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It's an interesting one Campbellclansman, I always took that pattern to be what I understood as an Etterick. This I had in my mind was a kind of specialist horticultural knife so was tickled to see it etched with "the docker" . In use it's forward offset blade makes for powerful accurate push and draw cuts, I like it. Love to see your Rodgers one!

The Slater knife is lovely, I can't get enough of ivory (un pc of me) and yes the lance/tweezers are uncorroded and unusually geneous in length. This knife is as useful now as was when made, well it will be once I figure out a job for the button hook lol.
Speaking of lance and toothpick I made one lately for a fairly rare (I assume) and fancy knife I've been working on, I must post it here tomo.
 
ed_is_dead said:
Rockman, I love your S&R pruner, it's a noble tool with some lovely features to it.
I pressed one of mine into service lately in the garden after a well overdue reprofile. Here it is from earlier today after a wipe on my sleeve. Clarke and Warburton.



Been meaning to add a few new pieces to the thread, hope you don't mind me photo bombing!
Harrison Brother and Howson "The Docker". I'd have called it an Etterick? Powerful exact cutter this.





John Slater & Son's. Can't find them in the holy book, looks and feels old. It came up good with a flush, lube, sharpen and tightening of the pivots. Love the ivory. I'm going to enjoy using this lots.








Ibberson ruler knife, I like that's it's a foot and "Rustless". Jack should like this one, cool it has a manicure blade too, not seem that before.







Any ideas on Stewarts & Lloyd's?
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Thanks Ed, That's a fine group of old folders :thumbsup: I'm with Duncan on your Slater & sons, it's a beauty, I love it 😍
 
Campbellclanman said:
Interesting seeing a Harrisons "Docker" I picked up a Joseph Rodgers one a while ago!
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Nice find Duncan :cool: I'm guessing that, in this case, the reference is to the practice of 'docking' a lamb's tail? :thumbsup:
ed_is_dead said:
Awesome Jack thanks! I came up with nothing for the exact name and made a note to read through all Slaters when time allowed but you've saved me from it, that's gotta be it.
So John being the predecessor to what would eventually become Slater of Venture fame. Guess me a rough date?
Great and at times sad to read the history of these once proud companies and what befell them and the families who ran them, reduced down to dates born, died, buried on unconsecrated ground leaving x amount of money. The knives live on.
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If it is that John Slater, he died in 1871, so definitely before then Ed! ;)
 
I think that's where Docking came from eh Jack? I think your are right Sir!

Joseph Rodgers Docking Knife, different Blade shape to Ed's, ed Sir, you asked.....

I apologise about the shiny Bolsters - I don't like to shiny up Knives, these had extremely "hard-to-get-off" something ( wasnt Glue but like a gum )all over the Bolsters, when working it of as carefully as possible one couldnt he;p shine the Patina off the Brass :(

J9SQgTK.jpg


DDPJ474.jpg


GYU69uG.jpg


OwZn6YI.jpg


fO8g1U0.jpg


86k34Zq.jpg


JN8b63j.jpg
 
Campbellclanman said:
I think that's where Docking came from eh Jack? I think your are right Sir!

Joseph Rodgers Docking Knife, different Blade shape to Ed's, ed Sir, you asked.....

I apologise about the shiny Bolsters - I don't like to shiny up Knives, these had extremely "hard-to-get-off" something ( wasnt Glue but like a gum )all over the Bolsters, when working it of as carefully as possible one couldnt he;p shine the Patina off the Brass :(

J9SQgTK.jpg


DDPJ474.jpg


GYU69uG.jpg


OwZn6YI.jpg


fO8g1U0.jpg


86k34Zq.jpg


JN8b63j.jpg
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Really interesting to see Duncan, what a nice find :cool: :) :thumbsup:
 
I’ve had this one a while Jack - 😊👍

Edit: I should say, Bolsters are not actually Brass, but Very Nickle Silver if that makes sense- although the photos make it look Brass
 
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